Dog and Animal Bites

There is no excuse for a dog bite injury - Strict Liability

There are more than 60 million dogs in the United States, and as many as 5 million people are bitten every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. While most dogs do not normally pose a threat, some dogs and other household pets have negligent owners who do not follow the law, which can result in injury. Unfortunately, a majority of dog bite victims are children under the age of 15.

Washington’s dog bite statutes protect the dog bite victim. The law makes the owner of the dog, and anyone else who harbors, keeps, or is negligent with the dog, or anyone who unreasonably failed to control the dog during the incident, strictly liable for the inflicted injuries. This means that a dog owner may still be held financially responsible for injuries sustained even if they were not present or the dog had escaped and was running loose.

Dog bite damages in Washington State include medical bills, scarring and cosmetic disfigurement, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The challenge in these cases is to translate these losses into the proper amount of monetary compensation that the law provides. Our skilled Seattle Personal Injury lawyers know how to get the maximum recovery for your injury.

If you’ve been attacked by a dog or other animal, it’s important that you or your attorney’s investigator do the following:

1. Determine the name and address of the animal’s owner;

2. Determine the name and breed of the animal;

3. Determine if the animal is up to date with its vaccines;

4. Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses;

5. Take pictures of the injury and the incident location;

6. Have the injury treated by a doctor;

7. DNA testing and a cast of the animal's mouth may be necessary to prove your case. Do not permit the animal to be destroyed until you have consulted with an attorney.

As with all personal injury cases, it’s important that you act quickly before time limits run out and your claims are forever barred. Call Perez & Perez Law, PLLC today for a free consultation.